Apparatus for use in tempering glass



March 7, 144 w n- 2,343,490

APPARATUS FOR USE IN TEMPERING GLASS Filed April 4, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z'mnentor GEkALQ WHITE (Itforneg March 7, 1944. w n-E 2,343,49Q

APPARATUS FOR USE IN TEMPERING GLASS Filed April 4, 1940 4 sheets s heec z linventor GEE/1L0 WHITE.

(Ittomeg March 7, 1944.

G. WHITE APPARATUS FOR USE IN TEMPERING GLASS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 4, 1940 Enventor GERALD WHITE,

' attorney Patented Mar. 7, 1944,

Gerald White, Toledo, Ohio, assignor to Hbbey- Owens-Ford Glass Company, Toledo, Ohio, I.

corporatlonof Ohio Application April 4, 1940, Serial No. 327,845

13 Claims. (01. 49 -45),-

This invention relates broadly to apparatus for use in the tempering of glass wherein the glass is heated to a temperature approximating the softening point and then rapidly cooled and, more particularly, to the means for supporting the glass during the heating and cooling operations.

An important object of the invention is the provision of improved means for supporting the glass to be tempered and particularly relatively small or curved plates very securely but with considerably less liability of breakage or cracking of the glass and with practically no marring of the surfaces thereof- Another important object of the invention is the provision of improved means for supporting a plurality of glassplates to be tempered simultaneously and which is readily adaptable to different sized plates and also to plates of widely varying form. a a

A further important object of the invention is I the provision of improved means for supporting the-glass plates in such a way as to permit expansion and contraction thereof without danger of warpage and whichhas a minimum amount of surface contact with the glass.

A still further important object of the invention is the provision of improved supporting means which permits of the ready placement of the glass plates thereupon and their removal therefrom and which is capable of handling plates of different thicknesses; said supporting means being of such character that it willefiectively withstand the elevated temperatures to which it is subjected during the heating operation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent during the courseof the following description, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numeral are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

Fig. 1 is a front view of a glass supporting means constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is an end view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken substantially on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a detail view, partially in section, of one of the supporting yokes;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken substantially on line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a front elevation, partially broken away, of the means for supporting the glass plates;

Fi 7 is a vertical section taken substantially on line 1-1 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a vertical section taken substantiallyon line 2-2 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a horizontal section showing a modi- I fled type of supporting means;

Fig. 10 is a front elevation thereof;

Fig. 11 is an end view thereof;

Fig. 12 is an elevation, partially in section, of another type of supporting meansfor the glass plates;

Fig. 13 is a perspective view thereof;

, Fig. 14 is a front elevation of a further type of supporting means; and

, Fig. 15 is a vertical section taken substantially on line iii-I5 of Fig. 14:

With reference now to the drawings and particularly to Figs. 1 to 8, inclusive, the supporting .means comprises a rectangular frame composed of the top and bottom horizontaltubular members 2i and 22 and the vertical side tubular members 22 and 24;.the top, bottom, and side members being welded or otherwise suitably secured together at their adjacent ends as at. 25.

' The supporting frame 20 is carried at its opposite rectly beneath the supporting bar 22 as shown in r The supporting bar 22 is suspended'from a carv riage 28 including a horizontal supporting beam Fig. 2. The hangers 28 and 21 are held upon 4 the supporting bar 22 by. cotter pins or the like 24 and 25 carried at the opposite ends of said'bar.

21 to which the bar 22 is secured by straps 28 and 22. Secured to the top of the supporting beam 21 are upstanding brackets 40 and 4| carrying rollers 42 and 42 respectively which are mounted upon and run along ahorizontal monorail 44.

Extending between and carried by the vertical side members 22 and 24 of supporting frame 20- are a plurality of 'horizontal, preferably tubular.

numeral 42 designates a'plurality of relatively small rectangular glass plates which are carried of the glass plates carried by the next lower support ll or by the bottom member 22 of the frame.

The horizontal tubular supports II are adiultablycarriedbythe frame Ilsothatthey may be moved vertically relative to one another to accommodate therebetween glass plates of "wi l! shapes and sizes. Each horizontal supportlliscarricdatitsoppositeendsbyyokes I and ll rcmovablyassociated with the vertical side members It and .2 respectively of said frame. Asbeatshowninl'igs. 2, 4, and 5,each of the yohes l8 and ll is substantially U-shaped 'andcomprisesapac'edle'gs II and Ii connected at their outer ends by acurved bite portion II. The opposite free ends of the legs it and Ii are bent upwardly to provide the hook portions 53 and I4 Secured to the bite-portion I! of the yoke is an inwardly directed substantially horizontal P having its free end curved downwardly as illustrated in Fig. 4. The pin II is adapted for selective engagement with any one of a plurality of vertically spaced openings I! in the respective tubular side member 28 or 24 of frame 20. Each horizontal support it has inserted transversely therethrough at its opposits ends horizontal pins 51; said pins project ing at their opposite ends beyond said support and adapted to be received within the heel: poi"- tions 53 and "of the yokw it end (iii.

In mounting the horizontal supports lls upon the frame 2', the outer curved ends of the pins Bl oi the yokes l8 and 49 arefirst inserted within the desired openings 56 in the side members and it of said frame, after which said yohes rotated about horizontal sizes to the position shown-in Fig. 4 where the legs and thereof incline inwardly and downwardly. The opposite ends of the horizontal supports are then po sitioned between the legs so iii of the yolxes end the projecting end portions of the trans verse pins 51 supported in the heel: portions and M of said yokes. The yohes therefore serve as hangers to freely carry the horizontal sup-- ports and as a result, the said supports be easily and conveniently set in place or removed. Likewise, the yokm can be readily and conveniently adjusted vertically to the desired positions along the side members it and so of the supporting frame 28.

Due to the elevated temperatures to which the supporting frame is subjected in the openings are hangers I, one being provided for each horizontal support It.

Each of the hangers ll comprises a pair of spaced substantially vertical legs '2 and 63 connected at their upper ends by a transverse bite portion I4 and having their lower ends bent upwardly to provide the cradle portions ill and II respectively which are arranged beneath and carry the respective horizontal support 48. Welded or otherwise suitably secured to the bite portion 84 of each hanger ll is a horizontal pin II which is inserted within the desired opening II in the bracing strap 88. v

The means for supporting and retaining the glassplatcsllandllinplacearecan'iedby the horizontal tubular supports ll and'by the top .and bottom members II and 22 of'the frame 2|. Thus, each horizontal support 4! is adapted r to carry a plurality of supporting blocks ll for supporting the glass plates at their lower edges and also a plurality of depending wire retaining elements I which engage the upper'edges of the glass plates carried by the next lower support. As shown in Fig. 5, each support ll is provided with a series of openings ll engageable by the supporting blocks I8 and arranged alternately with the openings II are the pairs of openings II for receiving the wire retaining elements I.

The supporting blocks 68 are preferably formed of lava or some other desired refractory material and may be of the construction shown in Figs. 6 and '7. More specifically, each supporting block it comprises a body portion 12 arranged transversely of the support 45 and provided centrally thereof with a depending projection 13 adapted to be received within the desired omning Ii in said support. The bottom of the body portion of the block is notched to form a. recess 14 resulting in depending end portions iii and ii having substantially flat faces ":i'i and i8 respectively which engage the tubular support l5 and serve to maintain the block in proper position thereupon and prevent rocking or wobbling thereof. The top of the block 68 is substantially l-shaped to provide the upwardly diverging our-- faces '88 and 80. By employing supporting blocks of such construction, the lower edges of the glass plates can be properly located or centered upon the blocks and will be held against lateral shift- 7 ing movement by the upwardlyponverging surof t e glass, there may sometimes be a tendency faces 78 and 80. Likewise, there is a minimum area of contact between the lower edges of the glass plates and the blocks, as clearly indicated in Fig. 7, wherein the outer corners only of the plate 46 contact the block 88. y

The retaining elements 69 consist of inverted U shaped wire clips comprising spaced leg portions II and I2 connected-at their upper ends by the integral bite portions 83. These wire clips are inserted downwardly through the openings ii in the horizontal supports 45 and receive the upper edges of the glass plates between the spaced legs thereof; Diametrically opposed pairs of openings ii are provided in the tubular supports so that the legs of the clips can pass downwardly there through. The wire retaining elements are preferably formed of o. non-corrosive heat resistin metal such as Nichrome, Monel motel, stainless steel, or the like.

From the above, it will be seen that the supporting irome 29) may be used to support o. large number of relatively small plates of glass by proper adjustment oi the horizontal supports iii or it can be used to support larger sheets by removing one or more of said supports. Supporting blocks 88 are preferably carried by the bottom member 22 of the frame, while wire retaining ele ments 69 maybe carried by the top member 2i thereof. The frame maybe employed to support glass plates of different shapes and sizes and, in addition, the supporting blocks 68 and wire retaining elements 89 are adapted for supporting plates of different thicknesses. Moreover, the supporting blocks and wire retaining elements permit relative expansion and contraction of the glass without warpage in that they do not act as rigid confining members. Because of the limited contact of the glass with the supporting blocks and wire retaining elements,,there is practically no danger of'marring of the glass surfaces and. likewise, considerably less liability of breakage .or cracking. Further, because of the minimum contact of the glass with the supporting means, the supporting, means will not appreciably'increase the rapidity of chilling of the glass at its points oi support and thus tend to cause breakage. In Figs. 9, 10, and 11 is illustrated a modified type of means for connecting th horizontal tubular supports 45 to the vertical sid members 23 and 24 of the supporting frame 20. As shown, each horizontal support 45 has secured to each end thereof a substantially U-shaped yoke 85 including the'spaced legs 88 and 81 which straddle the respective side members 28 or 24 and project outwardly therebeyond. Received between the outer ends of the legs 88 and 81 of yoke 85 is a channel member 88 comprising a base portion 88 and the lnturned end portions 80 and Si. Carried by the base portion 89 is a horizontal pin 92 adapted forselective engagement with the openings 58 in the side member of the frame. Carried by the end portions 80 and SI of said channel member 88 are horizontal transverse pins 98 and 94 provided at their outer ends with heads 90 and 95 respectively. The legs 88 and 8'! oi yoke 85 are provided with upwardly and inwardly inclined slots 91 and 88 within which the'pins 88 v and 94 respectively are adapted to be received.

When securing the horizontal tubular support 45 in place, the pins 02 of channel members 88 are first insertedwithin the desired openings or strips of glass it is sometimes desirable to support said pieces or strips throughout their entire length rather than at spaced points. In such case, there may be carried by each horizontal support 45 a plurality of blocks I08 as shown in Figs. 14 and 15. Each block I08 comprises a body portion I01 associated with the tubular support 45 in the same manner as blocks 68 and secured to said support by a vertical pin I08. The block I06 is provided with a flat upper surface I09 and with upturned flanges H0 and III at opposite ends thereof. Extending between and carried by two or more blocks I06 is a longitudinally extending supporting plate II2 upon which the piece or strip of glass H3 tobe tempered is placed. When using this type of supporting means, it is ordinarily not necessary to employ any'wire retaining elements.

in the side members 28 and 24 of frame 20." The horizontal support is then disposed between the side members of the frame, with theyokes -chilled by any other suitable means.

In operation, the glass plates or pieces of glass to be tempered are supported in the frame 20 by any one of the devices illustrated and described above, and then introduced into a furnace where theglass is heated to approximately the softening point thereof. The frame is then moved out oiv the furnace where the glass is subjected to a chilling action by'blasts of air or With the supporting means disclosed, a relatively large and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without number of glass plates or pieces of glass may be departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. In apparatus for supporting glass plates in a vertical position during a tempering operation, a frame including spaced vertical side members, vertically spaced horizontal supports carried by said side members and adapted to receive glass plates in a vertical position therebetween, each support being provided with a plurality of openings, supporting blocks having portions received within said openings for supporting glass plates thereupon at their lower edges, and means also carried by said supports and engaging the upper next lower horizontal support.

2 In apparatus for supporting glass plates in edges 'of the glass plates supported upon the a vertical position during a tempering operation,

' ings, supporting blocks carried-by said supports for supporting glass plates thereupon at their taining elements 89. The wire retaining elements 69 are of the same construction as described above and associated with the support in the same man which fit over the tubular support 45 and the up-- wardly diverging legs III! and IN which receive therebetween the lower edges of the glass plates; The blocks 89 are secured to the support by vertical pins I08 which pass through the openings III in said support.

When tempering relatively thick or small pieces downwardly through the openings in said sup-' a frame including spaced vertical side members, vertically spaced horizontal supports carried by said side members and adapted to receive glass plates in a vertical position therebetween, each support being provided with a plurality of openlower edges, and wire retaining elements passing ports and engaging the upper edges of the glass plates supported upon the next lower support.

3. In apparatus for supporting glass plates in a frame including spaced vertical side members,

- vertically spaced horizontal supports carried by said, side members and adapted to receive glass plates in avertical position therebetween, each support being provided with two series .of openings, supporting blocks having portions received a vertical position during a temperingoperation.

4 r 'asaasao hook portions, and means carried at the opposite through the openings of the other series and engaging the upper edges of the glass plates supported upon the next lower horizontal support.

4. In apparatus for supporting glass plates in a vertical position during a tempering operation,

a frame including spaced vertical side members,

vertically spaced horizontal supports carried by said side members and adapted to receive glass plates in a vertical position therebetween, each support being provided with a plurality of openings, and supporting blocks having portions re-' ceived within said openings for supporting glass plates thereupon at their lower edges.

5. In apparatus for supporting glass plates in a vertical position during a tempering operation, a frame including spaced vertical side members, vertically spaced horizontal supports carried by said side members and adapted to receive glass plates in a vertical position therebetween, each support being provided with a plurality of openings, and supporting blocks having portions received within said openings, each said supporting block having upwardly diverging pper surface portions for supporting glass plates thereupon at their lower edges.

6. In apparatus for supporting glass plates in a vertical position during a tempering operation, a frame including spaced vertical side members, vertically spaced horizontal tubular supports carried by said side members and adapted to receive glass plates in a vertical position therebetween, each support being provided with a plurality of openings, and supporting blocks mounted on said horizontal tubular supports. each comprising a body portion for supporting a glass plate thereupon at its lower edge and provided with a depending projection received within one oi said openings and with portions at opposite sides of said projection for engaging its associated support to prevent rocking of said block thereon.

7. In apparatus for supporting glass plates in a vertical position during a tempering operation, a frame including spaced vertical side members, vertically spaced horizontal tubular supp rts carried by said side members and adapted to receive glass plates in a vertical position therebetween. each support being provided with a plurality of openings. and supporting blocks mounted on said horizontal tubular supports, each courprising a body portion having upwardly diver-g ing upper surface portions for supporting a glass plate thereupon at its lower edge and provided witha depending projection received within one oi said openings and withportions at opposite sides of said projection for engl-tlnl its "80? ciated suppo t to prevent rocking of said block thereon.

8. In apparatus for supporting glass plates in a vertical position during a tempering operation,

a frame including spaced vertical side members, vertically spaced horizontal supports arranged between said side members and adapted to receive glass plates in a vertical position therebetween, means carried by said supports for supporting the glassplates, yokes carried by the side members of said frame and being provided with ends of said supports for engaging the hook portions of said yokes'.

9. In apparatus for supporting glass plates in a vertical position during a tempering operation, a frame including spaced vertical side members having spaced openings therein, vertically spaced horizontal supports arranged between said side members and adapted to receive glass plates in a vertical position therebetween, means carried by said supports for supporting the glass plates, yokes having portions adapted for selective engagement with theopenings in the side members or said frame and being iurther provided with hook portions, and means carried at theopposite ends of said supports for engaging the hookportions of said Yokes.

10. In apparatus for supporting glass plates in a vertical position during a tempering operation, a frame including spaced vertical side members, vertically spaced horizontal supports arranged between said side members and adapted to receive glass plates in a vertical position therebetween, means carried by said supports for supporting. the glass plates, yokes carried at the opposite ends of said supports and having spaced legs straddling the side members or said frame, said legs being provided with upwardly and inwardly inclined slots, and members carried by the side members 0! said frame and having portions received within the slots in the legs of sai yokes for supporting said supports. r

11. In apparatus for supporting glass plates in a vertical position during a tempering operation.

between said side'members and adaptedto receive glass plates in a vertical position therebetween, means ca'rried by said supports for supporting the glass plates. yokes carried at the opposite ends of said supports and having spaced legs straddling the side members of said ,irame, said legs being provided with upwardly and inwardly inclined slots, and members having portions adapted for selective engagement with the openings in the side members of said frame and other portions received within the slots in the legs oi said yokes for supporting said supports.

12, In apparatus for supporting glass during a tempering operation, a rrame including spaced vertical side members, vertically spaced horiaontal supports carried by said side members,

supporting blocks carried by each of said supports, and a plate extending horizontally between and freely carried by said blocks for sup- 

